Lewer hits out at the boo boys (From Stroud News and Journal)

Lewer hits out at the boo boys

FOREST GREEN ROVERS... 1 LEIGH RMI....................... 1

FED up Alan Lewer has laid down the gauntlet to Forest Green fans by asking them to get behind his struggling side.

Rovers' boss has had enough of the terrace critics and is calling on the fans and even the tea lady to back his team.

"I'm fed up with the people around here, people in the crowd who want to give us stick," Lewer said.

"There are people in the crowd who come behind the dugout and want to give us stick for what we're achieving- they've even booed my players in the warm-up.

"The fans don't bother me one iota. What I'm saying is the supporters need to get behind us and that goes from everyone to the tea lady-we need togetherness.

"When I came here they had no points. Twenty-two games later we've got 23. I f someone had given me six points before I got here, we wouldn't be in this position."

Earlier, Lewer watched his side struggle on a pitch that he dismissed as a 'ploughed field'.

Mark Beesley's second half free-kick had been cancelled out by a late equaliser from Ian Taylor, giving basement side Leigh a deserved share of the spoils.

With top- scorer Charlie Griffin playing on the right wing, Rovers failed to sparkle in a wretched first half that had relegation written all over it.

With only Scott Rogers and Damon Searle patrolling midfield, Leigh stamped their authority on the over employed pairing. However, loan signing from Chester Kevin Rapley proved a lively option as the striker hit the bar twice during the match.

Nonetheless, the cutting edge of Ryan Williams was missed and with Williams scoring for Bristol Rovers on Saturday- the hope of renewing his loan looks slim.

However, Jon Beswetherick was for once showing why both Plymouth and Swindon put faith in him,with the normally languid performer offering a brief threat down the left.

A torrid first half became enlivened when Rapley's neat turn and strike shaved the bar on the cusp of half time.

Rovers improved slightly after the break with Griffin forcing Mann into an early save. The goal that Rovers craved arrived on 56 minutes.

Beesley found the net when his low free-kick nestled into the bottom corner. Beesley was in inspired form as he broke three tackles to see Rapley smack the post.

Nonetheless, Leigh playing under new boss Steve Bleasdale-a former colleague of Lewer at Chester, became a greater threat. The threat was justified with Steve Perrin getting a disappointing parry on a right-wing cross which allowed Taylor two touches to score.

* ROVERS will hope to get their survival quest back on track when they entertain York City at The Lawn this Saturday (3pm).